Hines Ward Doesn't Think the NFL Is Ready for an Openly Gay Player

By now, you've no doubt heard that Jason Collins revealed that he is gay yesterday. And that, in doing so, he became the first openly gay player in the NBA as well as the first openly gay athlete in any major U.S. professional sport. So, now, everyone is wondering who will come second. Another NBA player? An MLB player? An NHL player? Or an NFL player?

Former Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward wouldn't be opposed to seeing an NFL player come out next. But, earlier today, he revealed that he doesn't think it's going to happen anytime soon.

"I don't think football is ready," he said on NBC Sports Radio. "There's too many guys in the locker room and, you know, guys play around too much."

He hopes that someone out there is brave enough to do it, though.

"Hopefully, one guy comes out of the closet and [will] be comfortable with himself," he said. "I don't have anything against a gay football player or a gay person period. So, if he does, he has support from me. I want people to live their lives for who they are and don't have to hide behind closed doors to do that."

From what we've heard recently, there are a few NFL players ready to come out. But there's no telling how soon they'll do it or how Collins' decision to come out may have affected their decision to do the same. So you'll just have to stay tuned to see if Ward's assessment is correct.

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